Travis Ramsey and his octopus-like reach are coming to the blue-line rescue for the reeling Victoria Salmon Kings, and not a moment too soon.
The six-foot-four rearguard, who came out of the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Hockey League to play in two NCAA Frozen Fours for the University of Maine Black Bears, has been reassigned by the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
This will be the 21-year-old California native's second stint in the ECHL with Victoria and he will be in the lineup when the Salmon Kings meet the Alaska Aces tonight at 8:15 p.m. at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. Ramsey had four assists and was plus-three in 22 games earlier this season for the Salmon Kings. He has four assists in 15 AHL games this season with Manitoba.
With a blueline depleted by Patrick Coulombe's slow-healing lower-body injury and ECHL all-star Dylan Yeo's AHL call-up to the Moose, the National Conference leading Salmon Kings have gone winless in their last six games at 0-5-1.
The Salmon Kings, however, are looking more hale and hardy on the blue-line after gaining not only Ramsey but also Nanaimo-native and puck-moving ECHL all-star rookie-pro defenceman Aaron Brocklehurst, the latter a former Victoria Salsa BCHL junior who was acquired in a trade this week with the Florida Everblades for forward Milan Gajic.
"We're back to the point where I don't see a better defence in the league than the one we have. On paper, anyways," said Victoria GM and head coach Mark Morrison.
"There should be no excuses. Obviously, we were weak back there on the blue-line the past number of games. But with the addition of Ramsey and Brocklehurst, maybe we can win a game."
The hint of sarcasm was intentional.
Morrison called an on-ice team meeting following yesterday's skate and wanted to see some introspection from his charges after they gave up a last minute goal in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Aces.
"Although we were less than a minute from overtime, we didn't play well enough to get even a single point," said Morrison.
"I wasn't happy with that. With 22 games left in the season we're sitting in first place but we're not playing desperate enough. This is a series that can solidify first period yet we were not desperate enough. Although we kept Wednesday's game close and were in it on the scoreboard, we simply weren't ready when it counted. We had a meeting on the ice today and basically talked about it."
Although it was veteran forward Olivier Filion who coughed up the puck on Wednesday's last-minute winning goal scored by Alaska defenceman Bryan Miller, the Victoria coach was loathe to blame Filion.
"I never have anything bad to say about Olivier because he gives 110 per cent every time he's on the ice; and he was dog tired when he made that giveaway," said Morrison.
"I don't mind mistakes made by guys who have worked hard like that and are tired near the end of a shift. I don't like mistakes made when guys aren't trying."
The Aces (28-18-3) moved to within four points of the National Conference-leading Salmon Kings (29-16-5) after Wednesday's result. The clubs close out this
pivotal four-game set with games tonight, tomorrow and Sunday in Anchorage.
